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2 Sheets Sheet 1.

( No Model.)

W. O. BEHRENS. TYPE WRITER DROP CABINET.

Patented Feb. 24,1891.

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W. 0. BEHRENS. TYPE WRITER DROP CABINET.

No. 446,943. Patented Feb. 24, 1891-.

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UNITED STATES PATENT- (lemon.

\VILLIAM C. BEHRENS, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

TYPE-WRITER D RD P-CABI N ET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,943, dated February 24, 1891. Application filed January 19, 1889- Serial No. 296,799- (llo model) -0 ail whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM (J. BEHRENs,

a citizen of the United States, anda resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-\Vriter Drop-Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

' My invention relates to what is commercially known as type-writer drop-cabinets; and the object of my invention is to simplify the construction of the same so that they can be more cheaply constructed and cannot get out of order. Heretofore such cabinets have been provided with more or less mechanism, consisting; of springs or weights, links or gears, and moving platforms (for the typewriter) connected to or disconnected from the lid. In my invention all such features are dispensed with, my invention consisting, broadly considered, of a drop-cabinet in which a platform on which the type-writer. rests when in use is combined with an inclined plane upon which the type-writer slides by gravity or can be moved by hand and upon which it rests when not in use, the space be tween the said inclined plane and the top,

cover, or lid forming a cavity of sufficient area to. accommodate a type-writer.

My invention also consists of other-features, hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view of a drop-cabinet constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line x a: of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on line y y of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the desk with the lid open. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the construction of the catch for locking the two parts of the lid together.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the main features of my invention are the horizontal rest or platform 1 and the inclined plane or bottom 2, these parts being fastened to the side panels of the desk in any proper manner so as to be stationary, the inclined bottom forming a continuation of the horizontal rest or platform.

The platform 1 is arranged at such a distance below the top of the -desk as to bring the key-board of the type-writer to the proper height for convenient manipulation. The inclined bottom is sufficiently inclined to provide between its surface and the under surface of the lid a sufliciently large cavity to accommodate a type-Writer. In the drawings I have shown this cavity of a size to hold a Hammond type-writer, (shown in dotted outlines in Fig. 3;) but any other type-writer of the same or less size can. of course, be used in the samecabinet. For typewriters of greater height than the Hammond the inclined bottom must be made steeper in order that the lid or cover may be closed down over the cavity. A buffer or buffers 3 are placed at thebottom of the inclined plane to prevent any sudden jar to the machine as it descends to its place. Guides 4 are placed a snfficient distance apart to allow the type-writer to pass freely between them, these guides being placed on the platform as well as on the inclined bottom. Stops 5 are placed at the front to limit the forward movement of the type-writer as it is pulled up by hand to its position for use.

The lid for closing the type-writer receptacle or cavity is made in two parts 6 and 7, the rear part 6 being hinged to the desk, while the front part 7 is hinged to the rear part, so as to fold under the same, as clearly shown'in Fig. 3. Stops 8 are provided to take the strain off the hinges that secure the rear part of the lid to the desk, and the side rests 9, while serving a similar purpose, also serve to keep the front part of the lid level with the remaining surface of the desk, the said front part bearing on said rests. In order that the front lid when folded under the rear lid and both lowered in place may be supported in said position a rest-block 10 is provided, on which the front lid rests, as shown in Fig. 3. This rest-block (one on each side) may be an offset from rest 9, as shown in said figure, or it may be a separate piece.

To secure the two parts of the lid together, I have pivoted to the under side of the front part 7 of the lid a hooked catch 11, provided with a handle 12, which latter extends through an opening 13 in the front piece 14, so that it is accessible and can be easily manipulated by hand. A spring 15 presses the catch in a direction to engage a slotted piece 16, secured to the under side of the rear part (I) of the lid. To secure the two parts of the lid to each other it is only necessary to press them together, when the catch will snap into the slot of piece 10. lid from each other press the handle of the catch toward the lid to which it is secured.

In all type-writer drop-cabinets heretofore constructed it has been impossible to provide the same with a drawer under the platform supporting the type-writer; but in my invention this can be done because the said platform is stationary, always horizontal, and does not extend beyond the front surface of the desk. The drawer 17 is arranged to slide in and out on guides 18, (see .Fig. 2,) and the front piece of the drawer forms part of the platform. A look secures both drawer and lid in place, as is shown in Fig. 2:.

W hen the type-writer is in use it'oceupics the position on the horizontal platform indicated by dotted linesin l i u;s. 2 and 3. To restore the type-writer to its resting-place on the inclined plane it is only necessary to raise the lid and shove back the type-writer onto the inclined plane, when it will slideby gravity into itsplace againstthe buffers. The lid can then be unfolded and let down over the cavity and platform. To elevate the machine onto the platform, take hold by hand of the base thereof and raise it until its front part comes into contact with the stops 5, when the lid which was previously raised and folded together can be let down behind the machine, as indicated in Fig. 3.

My drop-cabinet may be constructed without any drawers, or it may have a series of drawers on one side only of the typewriter receptacle, or on both sides, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

I am aware of United States Patent No. SS LtOZ, granted to 13. 1 Richardson, May 29, 1888, and what is therein shown and described I do not claim.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let.- ters Patent of the United States, is-

l. A drop-cabinet provided with a horizontal stationary platform arranged below the top of the cabinet and extended to accommodate and support the type-writer in position for use, substantially as described.

2. In a drop-cabinet, the combination of a platform arranged below the top of the cabinet and extended to accommodate and suplo disengage the two parts of port the typewriter in position for use, with an inclined bottom joining the platform, for dropping and raising the type-writer thereon and for supporting the same when not in use, substantially as described.

35. in a drop-cabinet, the combination of ahorizontal stationary platform arranged be- .low the top ofthe cabinet and extended to port the typo-writer in position for use, with.

an inclined bottom joining the platform for dropping and raising the type-writer thereon and for supporting the same when not in use, and guides for the type-writer on the platform and bottom, substantially as described.

In a drop-cabinet, the combination of a horizontal stationary platform arranged below the top of the cabinet and extended to accommodate and support the type-writer in position for use, with an inclined bottom joining the horizontal platform for dropping and raising the typewriter thereon and for supporting thesame when not in use. and guides for the type-writer on the platform and bottom, substantially as described.

(3. In a drop-cabinet, a lid constructed in two parts, hinged together so that the front part folds under the rear part, combined with i'esebloeks to support the folded lid, substantially as described.

7. In a drop-cabinet, a lid constructed in two parts and so hinged together that the front part folds under the rear part, combined with a catch for locking the two parts together, said catch being provided with a handle arranged to be accessible from the outside, whereby the two parts of thelid may be readily disengaged from each other, substantially as described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 18th day of January, A. D. 1889.

\VILLIAM lllCllltENh'.

Witnesses:

J. E. M. BO\\'EN, W. E. Bowen. 

